Maui Day One

Our first full day in Maui was an adventure. I meant to document what we did every day because I knew I wouldn't remember exactly what happened on what day. Not that you will know any different, but I am trying my best. We did, however, manage to take 800 photos. That's 100 a day.
I started the day with Hawaian sweet bread coconut french toast, and Mark had a Spam omelette. No, not really. Then we went to these botanical gardens near the hotel, but this place looked in need of some funding. But I did manage to get this shot of the roots of a beautiful tree.




Then we hit the road to go see the wild coastline. On the way, we passed this old Buddhist cemetery. It looked ancient, but folks were still putting fresh flowers by the stones.

I am so lucky that I have a husband who loves this stuff as much as I do. We took a million photos and continued on our way.


Hmmm... Shouldn't those mountains be on our left?



Oops. Well finally found the right road and found the ocean cliffs.


When it turned into a one lane road with no guardrails, the grand fetus protective fear made us turn back and seek a safe dinner closer to sea level. Decided to try this Korean/Japanese place that wasn't quite Japanese enough. Couldn't eat my rubbery transparent noodles, so had ice cream for dinner instead.

It was the perfect day.

First Days on Maui

Maui was beyond words amazing. There is so much to tell. Looking back through all the pics we took we realized that we did A LOT. No wonder I am tired. It is going to take a little while to sift through all the pics and show you the best.
The first night we went out to dinner to a place called Manana Garage. Awesome crabcakes and fish burritos. Halfway through dinner we realized that we had a dinner guest at the next table: Jack, an adorable orange and white kitty taken care of by the restaurant and neighbors. We went to visit Jack a few more times. Turns out Maui has a large population of strays.
The next day we hopped in our rental car and drove around, took a wrong turn and found an old amazing Buddhist graveyard. Then went back to the right road and found some amazing views on the North coast of West Maui. The road was pretty frightening, so we turned round to find some more food.

Here is a pic of a gorgeous wild beach we found and had all to ourselves. Mark picked up some coral that had washed ashore, but he returned it so Pele would not be mad.



And here are a few pics from the most incredible waterfall hike we took. It was us, the guide and one other couple. We saw three waterfalls, bamboo, wild ginger, ate wild berries, and climbed down the roots of an ancient fig tree.




There are so many more fun pics to show. More soon!

Boy, Oh, Boy!

Now we have two professional opinions that the squirmy critter in my belly is a boy! I really did have a feeling that is was. About two weeks ago I started feeling these squishy soft movements below the belly button. The uterus is still down there, but raising up a centimeter a week. I can no longer sleep on my belly because I can feel the melon in there.

I conceived 19 weeks ago, but I am in my 21st week of pregnancy. And I have no idea if I am 4 or 5 months pregnant. Whatever it is, I just wish I looked obviously pregnant already. I am halfway to term. The Baby Boy is just over 7 inches from head to hiney and weighs almost a pound.

We don't have a cute nickname for the little guy yet. Any suggestions?

Too Many Things!

Gosh, there are so many things going on right now. But maybe anything seems hectic compared to my usual days comprised of sleeping, cat-loving, yoga, web-browsing, hubby-bothering, dishwashing, and more sleeping. In that order.

Packing, and then repacking because I want to fit everything into my carry-on bag.
Last minute tying up of things before trip.
Looking at, pondering, looking at again, and then putting an offer in on dream condo.
Calling financial advisors to see if said condo is good idea.
Going to doc to find out baby is 90 percent a BOY, no wait, yes, definitely, but no 90 percent BOY.
Taking Cato to vet every other day to check on his leaky squinty eye. Poor kitty.
Shopping for any decent clothes that will fit my new body. Because all that was left that fit was my yoga pants and a tshirt.

Now time to wash dishes again!

Maui Forecast

Looks like we won't need too much sunscreen in Maui, our honeymoon, our only vacation ever. We are trying not to be too pissed.

19 Weeks. It's Growing!

11 Weeks --------------- 19 Weeks


You can really tell now because I am not sucking my stomach in like last time.
The 19 weeks just looks like I have been eating a lot of Girl Scout Cookies. Which I HAVE NOT BEEN doing! No, no. Not me!! And those pants from the 11 weeks picture can no longer be buttoned and are pretty tight.
I ate Rolaids for the first time in my life last night. And I cry, just because. The morning sickness is pretty much gone and I have energy now. My uterus is almost up to my navel and is the size of a large cantaloupe.

At 19 weeks, Baby can now hear! Time for Mozart, Dead Can Dance, and Nine Inch Nails. Now we can talk to Baby and tell it our deep dark secrets. Baby is about 5 1/2 inches from crown of head to kissable heinie. Baby can now pee. It can control it's movements (like sucking it's thumb and picking it's nose) now that the little brain has millions of neurons that are working together and making millions more all the time. Eyebrows, eyelashes, fingerprints, and toenails are all there. All organs are formed and working. Truly a miracle.

Watch Out!

Mark is on a two month hiatus from Family Guy. This is very common in the "industry", where there is a lull in between seasons for filming or animating. Most folks relax in that time or work on other projects. So I am thrilled to have him around, and of course thrilled to bee able to go somewhere romantic with him. And have him all to myself. All mine. Yeah.

But I realized something. After three months of my morning sickness not letting me go too far from my bathroom and being unemployed, bored, and lonely, I was desperate for company. Someone to talk to. Someone to hang out with. Someone to listen to my little observances and complaints. Someone to snuggle.

But hubby was looking forward to time to work on his artwork. Time to bend over his art table with his headphones shouting Judas Priest into his ears. Time to frantically paint a bunch of paintings for his group show coming up in July. *sigh* But I know giving him this time is the best way I can show my love right now. I am even moving my websurfing butt to the dining room to give him his own space to work. Alone.

But watch out next week, honey. In Maui, I will not leave you alone. I will fit two months worth of lovin' into 8 days. Watch out!

Maui

This will be Mark and I in two weeks!



Despite the extortion of the despicable IRS that we are suffering right now, we are going to take a vacation. This is something neither of us have ever done - going away for the sole purpose of spoiling ourselves as a nelywed couple, just the two of us. This is a momentous thing to say the least. Pretty soon we will be three, which is even more wonderful, but right now we want to celebrate being two.


We are going to walk around in all the tropical green lushness and breathe in non-smoggy air. We are going to eat ice cream and look into the mouths of volcanoes. We are going to stand underneath misty waterfalls and watch sunsets with sand on our feet.


We are so excited. I can't stop thinking about it!